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A Victory For LGBT Veterans
In a major ruling that benefits LGBTI veterans and their domestic partners, The California Attorney General has ruled that LGBTI veterans who reside in California, and their domestic partners are eligible for all the same veteran’s benefits (that are provided by the state of California) that are available to heterosexual veterans and their spouses.
The ruling came as the result of a request for a ruling sent to the Attorney General by the California Commission on the Status of Women.
The ruling said the benefits would be available to LGBT veterans who had been given an honorable discharge, or who were discharged under honorable conditions. The Attorney General’s opinion goes on to state that the benefits may even be available to some who had been discharged from the military because of their sexual orientation. It says that "Discharge for homosexual conduct Is characterized as other than honorable only when there are aggravating circumstances in connection with one or more completed, attempted, or solicited homosexual acts." The ruling then went on to say "A discharge premised solely on the member’s sexual orientation or gender would not disqualify him or her for state funded veterans’ benefits."
The ruling also specifically says that transgender veterans can receive state funded veterans’ benefits as well.
Here is a summary of some of the benefits available to LGBTI veterans and their domestic partners.
- Direct low cost loans to acquire homes and farms.
- Rehabilitative and medical care at the California Veterans’ Homes.
- Veterans’ preferences in state civil service examinations.
- College tuition fee waivers for veterans and their dependents.
- Disabled veterans’ business enterprise opportunities.
- Waived or reduced fees for hunting and sport fishing licenses/permits for disabled veterans.
A copy of the Attorney General’s opinion may be found by clicking on the following link:
http://www.calcomui.org/lgbtiveteranseligibleforveteransbenefits.html
Many but not all of the California funded veterans benefits are provided by the California Department of Veterans Affairs. To see an overview of the sate funded veterans’ benefits provided by that department, direct your browser to the following link:
http://www.cdva.ca.gov/VetService/Default.aspx
Boyce Hinman
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